Mayo Clinic Radio: National Donate Life Month

April 19, 2018

Someone is added to a transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Transplant surgery now makes it possible for many organs and tissues to be donated, including: hearts, kidneys, lungs, pancreases, livers, intestines, corneas, skin, tendons, bones, nerves and heart valves. Unfortunately, many people awaiting transplant never get the call saying that a suitable donor organ — and a second chance at life — has been found. Statistics from HHS show that 8,000 people die in the U.S. each year because organs are not donated in time.

April is National Donate Life Month, a time to encourage people to become organ, eye or tissue donors. This is also a time to celebrate donors and transplant recipients.